Follower



Aug. 20,1929.

E. J. CARD ET AL FOLLOWER Filed Dec. 17, 1925 gwuemkou Earl James Card Victor fidolph Granber Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL JAMES CARD AND VICTOR ADOLPH GRONIBERG, O! JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS TO J'AMESTOWN METAL EQUIPMENT CO., INC., OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I'OLLOWEB.

Application filed December 17, 1925. Serial No. 76,064.

This invention relates to an improvement in a follower for filing cabinets used for the purpose of holding the cards, files or pers in the drawers of the cabinet in a su stantially vertical position.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a follower which is normally'held in a fixed position from which it can be quickly and easily released, the action being obtained without the use of serrated or roughened portions.

Another object of this invention is to rovide in a follower a pivotally mounted p te which supports the entire face of the inmost card or sheet, whether the follower engage the cards or sheets tightly or loosely.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a follower of this type a plate which is pivotally mounted to allow for the normal increase in thickness of the upper edge of the files or papers as compared to the lower edge and which, as soon as the compression is released, will tilt so as to allow access to the cards or sheets with only a slight rearward movement of the follower.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a follower of this type which is held in position by pressure applied both upwardly and downwardly simultaneously.

Other objects of this invention will appear from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and

in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a follower embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged'sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, and illustrating the follower in the locked and released positions; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings the follower comprisesbriefiy a plate or board 10, a base 11 bearing a bracket 20 to which the plate 10 is pivoted and a clamp or catch member 12, also pivoted to the base 11.

It is the customary practice in filing cabinets to provide in the base of the drawer a longitudinally extending central recess. Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that the numeral 13 is employed to designate the base of such a drawer having a central recess 14. Rigidly secured to the base of the recess 14 in any desired manner is a guide channel 15.- This is preferably of the same depth as the recess 14 and the longitudinal side walls are provided with flanges 16, which are in the same plane as the base 13 of the drawer, and which overhang the base of the channel.

The base 11 includes a pair of right-angle rails 17 connected by an integral cross bar 18, preferably so formed as shown in Figure 4, that the main portion of the cross member 18 is above the rails 17, and is connected thereto by means of vertical portions 19. The rails 17 are of such dimensions that when inserted in the channel 15 lie below the flanges 16 without, however, bearing against the side walls or against the flanges. In other words, the base is free to reciprocate in the channel 15, but by reathey will 7 son of the length -.of'the side rails cannot twist or shift laterally.

Mounted upon the central portion of the cross bar 18 is a bracket 20 having a foot 21 at right angles thereto and side walls 22 also at right angles to the bracket wall. The bracket is preferably fixed in place by inserting the foot 21 below the cr'ossbarlB, as shown particularly in Figures 3, and 4, and securing it to the cross bar in any de siredmanner. The walls 22, however, are spaced above the foot 21 suflicientl'y so that they rest upon, the top of the cross bar 18. when the foot is below the bar and extend above the back 23 of the bracket, the extended portions being provided with tures 24, which receive a in 25.

The clamp 12 has side anges 26 formed .at right angles to the back 27 and provided with suitably located apertures 28. The side flanges 26 terminate short of the base of the 24 in the side walls to receive the pin 25, so that the clamp is pivotally fixed to the base by means of the pin.

It will be noted that the flanges 26 ten minate substantially at the base of the side walls 22 of the bracket and that the feet 29 are so formed as to enter the channel 15 below, theflanges 16 (see particularly Fig. 1). The back 27 passes freely between the flanges 16 and the central portion of the lower edge of the clamp is cut away at 30 so that only the feet 29 contact with the base of the channel 15. Reference to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, will show that the clamp member rests only against the base of the channel 15 and does not bear against the sidewalls or the flanges 16. At the upper end of the clamp 12 the back 27 is bent backward to'provide' a tongue 31 (see Figs. 2 and 3).

The platejlO has at itslower edge a tab 32, which extends into the channel 15 between the flanges 16 and which permits any lateral shifting of the plate. The central upper portion of the plate 1.0 is cut away to provide a recess 33, and the portion of the plate at the base of the recess 33 is offset as Lat 34. The plate 10 is preferably mounted upon the base-11 through the use of ears integral therewith, which are stamped out of the material of the plate and bent at right angles thereto in the usual manner. Through the ears 35 are formed apertures 36 and the ears are separated at such distance from each other that they can be inserted between the walls 22 of the bracket 20 and the pin 25 passed through the apertures 36. The as- =i1semblage of these partsis well illustrated in several figures of the drawings, and is believed to be clear without any further explanation.

A suitable spring 37 is provided having a laterally extended base 38 which rests in the recess formed by the bracket 20 and the cross bar 18.- The spring 37 is bowed and provided with a cross rib 39, which when the parts are assembled .as shown in Figure 3,

1'1 rests below the pin 25 while the tip 40 of the spring rests. against the upper end of the clamp 12. When the parts are so assembled and mounted in the channel 15, it will be noted that the tip 40 of the spring 37 which rests against the tongue 31 tends to tilt the clamp on the pin 25 andtoforce the feet 29 against the base of the channel 15. The contact of the feet 29 with the base tends to raise the support 11 until the rails 17 rest against the underside of the flanges 16. The follower is thus held in position by pressureexerted both upwardly against the flanges 16and downwardly against the base of the channel. This provides an extensive I .ffIiCtiOIlZLl contact between the follower and the channel and prevents any retraction of the follower in the channel under the pres- If, however, it is desired to draw the fol-- lower forward this can easily be done without deliberately releasing the clamp 12 because such a movement will cause the feet 29 to leave the base of the channel 15. How- 1 ever, it will be noted that the clamp 12 is so located with reference tothe recess 33 that the tongue 31 of the clamp can easily be grasped by the fingers of the operator, and the clamp tilted to release the feet 29, at the same time that the follower is drawn forward. This operation of the clamp furthermore does not call for any grasping of the platelO, but the follower is simply drawn forward by the application of pressure to the tongue 31.

When the follower is to be retracted the tongue .31 is pressed forward against the action of the spring 27, at the same time pressure is applied to the face of the plate 10 to push the follower into the desired position.

The cross rib 39 in the spring 37 by reason of its'contact with the pin 35 prevents the. spring from falling out of the follower under any conditions while the pin 25 places the spring under tension holding the base against the wall 23 of the bracket and the tip 40 against the tongue 31.

It will be noted that the plate is free to swing on the pin 25 so that it will allow for any increase in thickness of the top edges of fileswithout instituting any shifting of the follower. Furthermore, by reason of this pivotalinounting of the plate the files or papers'can be examined easily with a slight change in the position of the follower and. the plate. acts at all times to support fully the inmost card or sheet, thus avoiding the difficulty so often experienced in having the inmost cards or sheets slip down into the drawer and crumpled or torn.

The tab 32 of theplate 10 is provided with an' aperture 41 and a recess 42 is provided at the base of the clamp inalinement with the aperture 41. The purpose of the aperture 41 and the recess 42 is of course shown.

WVhile one embodimentfof this invention has been shown and described, applicants are not limited thereto, since it is obvious that other embodiments can be madewithout departing fromthe spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims. 3

Having thus set forth our invention, what rails we claim as new and for which we desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel therein, provided with overhanging flanges, of a follower including a standard including rails which enter said channel below said flanges, a clamp pivoted upon said standard including feet which enter said channel, and spring mechanism normally acting upon said standard and said clamp to raise said rails against the under face of said flanges and to depress said feet against the base of said channel thus to locate said follower in position in said drawer.

2. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel therein provided with overhanging flanges, of a follower comprising a standard, a plate pivotally mounted on said standard and a clamp pivotally mounted on said standard, each of said follower elements having portions which extend into said guide channel.

3. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel therein provided with overhanging flanges, of a follower comprising a standard, a plate pivotally mounted on said standard and a clamp pivotally mounted on said standard, said standard including rails, said plate including a tab and said clamp including feet, which rails, tab and feet extend into said guide channel.

4;. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel therein provided with overhanging flanges, of a follower comprising a standard, a plate pivotally mounted on said standard and a clamp pivotally mounted on. said standard, said standard including separated side rails which normally bear against the under faces of said flanges, said plate including a tab which extends into said channel between said flanges and said clamp including feet which normally bear against the base of said channel.

5. The combination with a drawer having a guide channel thereinprovided with overhanging flanges and adapted to receive a fastening rod which may pass longitudinally through said channel, of a follower comprising a standard including rails which pass below said flanges, a plate pivotally mounted on said standard and having a tab which extends into said channel and has an aperture therein through which said rod may pass and a clamp pivotally mounted on said standard and having feet which extend into said channel below said overhanging flanges.

6. In combination with a drawer having a guide channel therein of a follower having a plurality of relatively movable means in said channel, a further means forming part of said follower tending to separate said movable means and cause them to press upwardly and downwardly in said channel to locate said follower with relation to said channel.

7. In combination with guide channel therein, flanges forming part of said guide channel, of a follower having a plurality of relatively movable means in said channel, a further means forming part of said follower tending to separate said movable means and cause them to press upwardly against the under faces of said flanges and downwardly against the base of said channel to locate said follower with relation to said channel.

In testimony whereof we have afiixed our signatures.

EARL JAMES CARD. VICTOR ADOLPH GRONBERG.

a drawer having a 

